husband

American  

[huhz-buhnd] / ˈhʌz bənd /

noun

1. a married man, especially when considered in relation to his partner in marriage.

2. British. a manager.

3. Archaic. a prudent or frugal manager.

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verb (used with object)

1. to manage, especially with prudent economy.

2. to use frugally; conserve.

   to husband one's resources.

   Synonyms:

   hoard, store, save, preserve

3. Archaic.

   1. to be or become a husband to; marry.

   2. to find a husband for.

   3. to till; cultivate.

husband British  

/ ˈhʌzbənd /

noun

1. a woman's partner in marriage

2. archaic

   1. a manager of an estate

   2. a frugal person

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verb

1. to manage or use (resources, finances, etc) thriftily

2. archaic

   1. (tr) to find a husband for

   2. (of a woman) to marry (a man)

3. obsolete (tr) to till (the soil)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• husbandless
  adjective
• husbander
  noun
• unhusbanded
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of husband

before 1000; Middle English husband ( e ), Old English hūsbonda master of the house < Old Norse hūsbōndi, equivalent to hūs house + bōndi ( bō-, variant of bū- dwell ( see boor) + -nd present participle suffix + -i inflectional ending)

Explanation

A husband is a married man. Your grandfather might joke that he and your grandmother have been husband and wife for so long because she has the patience of a saint and he is deaf as a post. The word husband comes from the Old Norse hūsbōndi, where hūs meant house and bōndi meant dweller. As a verb, husband means to conserve resources and use them frugally. Because of the flooding in the area, roads are cut off and everyone is being asked to husband their supplies. This conservation of resources sense of husband also occurs in the related noun husbandry.

Example Sentences

My husband was 82 when he passed away.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

Today, my husband, actor-filmmaker Dave Franco, and I live in Los Angeles, in a 1960s house on a hill near the tree tops.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

A widow whose husband was killed in a car accident by a negligent driver but who could not bring a lawsuit because of a federal statute preserving governmental immunity.

From Slate • Jun. 2, 2026

Perry, 68, chose to set her novel in the South Downs where she has lived with her husband, artist and writer Grayson Perry, for more than 25 years.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

When her husband and daughter visit, she puts on a cheerful demeanor, even when she’s desperately ill.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

Related Words

• companion
• partner
• spouse